A wide range of views on immigration from across the social spectrum were submitted to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr McDowell.
The Minister today published the Review of Public Consultation Process on Immigration Policy in which the submissions were included.
Mr McDowell said he would consider the submissions in drafting comprehensive new immigration and residence legislation to replace the Aliens Act of 1935.
A total of 66 submissions were received from a wide cross- section of interested parties ranging from individual members of the public, community groups, non-governmental organisations, business representative bodies and the Social Partners.
On the issue of immigrant employment in Ireland, the Immigration Control Platform’s (ICP) submission argued against work permit expansion for immigrants. The ICP said that "when it comes to immigration policy employers profits are best served by a steady supply of Labour. Like any resource, when the supply of labour is tight relative to demand, its price rises. To maintain lower wages - and hence higher profits - employers want to ensure the supply of labour does not get too tight. Immigration is one way of ensuring a steady labour supply".
An employment group from Tallaght, Co Dublin, an area where long-term unemployment has had a major effect on generations, argued that labour immigration systems should be inclusive and anti-discriminatory.
The Special Project on Long-term Unemployment in Tallaght (SPLUT) proposed a single work permit system and a method to recognise overseas qualifications to be put in place.
It also called for investment in the community infrastructure of immigrant communities, training in cultural diversity for Government officials and a Government commitment to resourcing anti-racism campaigns.
Other areas discussed in the various submissions were housing, entry controls, residence permits, integration, nationality and marriage to Irish citizens and immigration for study and research.